Switching device for railways



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 O. B. PRICE. 8

SWITCHING DEVIGE FOR RAILWAYS. No. 335,238. P tented Feb. 2 .1886.

.Hi f5- Jizzremm: h M 722 N. PETEns Pnm-Lhhe n hu. Wunin mn, DA:v

(No Model.) '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. B. PRIOR SWITCHING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 335,238. Patented Feb. 2 ,1886.

Gamma. 1 m

Jzzzrsm'or:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. B. PRICE.

SWITCHING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 335,238. Patented Feb. 2 ,1886.

WE 5M Jzzzrsntar:

N. PETERS. Fholo-Lvlhognpher. wuhinzuzn. D. c.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I3. PRICE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCHING DEVICE FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,238, dated February 2, 1886.

Application filed August 10, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. Farm, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Devices for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch devices for railway-tracks; and my invention consists in combining with the switch-rails and their operating appliances certain movable frogs, whereby a continuous track is secured along each main track when the cars are not to be switched,and whereby the switching is effected without cutting the main-track rails.

My invention further consists in means described hereinafter for operating the movable portions of the switch devices and in the arrangement of the latter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a cross-0v er switch illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is aplan of aside switeh,showing the improvements applied thereto. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 1 2, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan illustrating one arrangement of movable frog and means for sliding the same. Fig. 5 is a section on the line A, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on the line B, Fig. 4.

Y and Z are the parallel main tracks, consisting each of continuous rails A A, and B B B B are the switch-rails of a cross-over switch, each switclrrail being secured to the ties at its inner end and being movable at the outer end, and the outer ends of the railsB B being connected by a cross-bar, c, a similar cross-bar connecting the outer ends of the rails B" B All the above-described parts are arranged as usual in cross-over switches.

In place of the ordinary fixed frogs at the points where the crossover rails cut the main rails, I use movable frogs E, each of which may be pivoted at :0, adjacent to the termination of one of the switch-rails, or may be arranged to slide b0di1y,as hereinafter set forth, and is otherwise so constructed,as set forth in Letters Patent granted to me on the 13th day of January, 1885, No. 310,613, that when it is in the position shown in Fig. 1 in full lines the cars may pass back and forth from one main track to the other over the switch-rails Serial No. 174,013.

(No model.)

and above the inner rails of the main tracks, while trains may also pass along either main track and over the wing portion of the frog lying upon the main rail. By turning the frogs v to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, both of the main tracks are left unobstructed. It is essential, however, that when the frogs are in the position shown in full lines the While any of the ordinary arrangements of rods and levers or cranks may be used for connecting the movable frogs with the movable switch-rails to insure a simultaneous adjust ment, I prefer to use the arrangement illus trated in Fig. 1, in which asingle crank-shaft, H, is provided with four cranks, the two outer cranks being connected to operate the two pairs of switch-rails, and each inner crank being connected to operate one of the movable frogs. The crank-shaft H is provided with an operating-handle, 9, so that by swinging the latter from one side to the other all the parts may be operated simultaneously.

Crank-levers have heretofore been used in devices for communicating motion from sliding rods to switch-rails; butI have substituted therefor connected links or toggle levers, which serve as a ready means of communicating motion and to lock the parts in positions in which it is most important to hold them immovable. Thus, as it is most important that the switch-rails should be maintained from the main-track rails, the two links 2 3 are set as shown in Fig. 1, one link, 3, being pivoted to a stationary pivot, 4, and the other link,2,being pivoted to the link 3, and also to the end of the cross-bare.

The sliding rod (1 is connected at one end to the joint of the links 2 3, and at the other to one of the outer cranks of the shaft H.

It is most important that the movable frogs should be securely held when in position extending over the main rails. For this reason the links 2 3 are arranged as shown, each pair of links being connected at its joint to a c0nnecting-rod, d, attached at its other end to one of the inner cranks. With the parts thus arranged the turning of the handle 9 of the crank-shaft to the left will break the line of the toggles connected with the switch-rails and carry the latter close to the main rails and hold them firmlyin position; but when the handle is thrown to the right, as shown in dotted lines, the links connected to the switch-rails will be brought into line, so that it will be impossible to carry the switch-rails against the main rails while the parts are thus arranged. At the same time that the switch rails are thus locked in their position away from the main rails the frogs will be carried away from the main rails by breaking the line of the toggles connected with the frogs, which latter can have but little tendency to recover their position improperly, while the reverse movement of the crank-shaft, throwing the movable frogs onto the main rails, will bring the links into line and lock the parts securely in place at a time when it is most essential that the frogs shall be held immovable.

While I have shown in Fig.1 the jointed links in connection with the parts of a crossover switch, they may be used in connection with ordinary turn-outs orswitches, whether or not the movable frog be employed. Thus in Fig. 2 I have shown an ordinary turn-out switch in connection with a movable frog and with links 2 3, connected to the movable frog and switch-rails, and by rods (1 to a doublecrank shaft, H. In this case, in order to properly adjust the movable frog E, the link 3 is extended beyond its pivot-point 4, to constitute a lever connected at its outer end to the rod (1.

As it is most important to secure a firm pivot or hearing, 4, which has to resist the thrustupon the frog, I use a block, 8, adapted to fit between one of the rails B and the guardrail 0, and with a downwardly-projecting pin constituting the pivot 4, upon which the lever or link 3 swings. This block 8 is bolted or otherwise secured between the rails, thereby affording an immovable support for the link or lever.

\Vhile I have described the movable frogs as pivoted and as arranged outside the main rails, they may slide bodily, and may be arranged between the main rails, the surface of each frog being varied, so as to afford a conpivot.. To properly guide the frog, it'rests upon guides at m, preferably curved as shown, and secured to the cross-ties. Each guide is inclined upward toward the main rail A, so that the frog is raised to bring it above the main rail as it approaches the latter, and is depressed as itis withdrawn, the two positions being shown in full and dotted lines, Fig. 5. To aid in holding the frog in place upon the main rail, the frog is provided with a curved lip, 12, Fig. 6, which extends beneath the head of the rail A, and prevents the frog from rising.

The movement of the frog is preferably efjointed hubs may be used with other arrangements of frogs or switch-rails.

It will be obvious that the jointed links or toggles may be diiferently arranged, according to the situations in which they are placed and the parts to be moved, and that any suitable appliances may be used for reciprocating the sliding rod d.

WVithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I claim 1. The combination, with the main tracks Y Z, having continuous rails, of cross-over switch-rails and movable frogs provided with wings, and each constructed to form a communication between the sections of the cross-over rail over the main-track rail without obstructing the latter, and connected to be carried to and from the main-track rail, substantially as set forth. v

2. The combination of the main tracks Y Z,

' having continuous rails, cross-over switchrails connected to form movable switches, movable bridge-frogs provided with wings and constructed to transfer cars over the continuous main rails, and a switch handle or lever and connections for operating simultaneously therefrom both frogs and both switches, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with movable frogs and switches of a cross-over switch, of joint-links connected in pairs to the switches and frogs and operating-rods ct, connected to the links,

the links connected to the switches being I arranged to assume positions at angles to each other when the switch-rails are set for siding and when the links connected to the frogs are in line, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the rails and frog of a railway, of two pairs of links and an operating-rod, substantially as described, whereby the frogis carried back and forth by the action of the links, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the main and siding rails and a frog guided to slide bodily to and from the unbroken main rail and constructed to overlap the latter, and operating devices for carrying the frog back and forth, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the main and siding block supporting the said pivot and clamped rails, a sliding frog, and guides inclined subbetween the track-rail and guard-rail, substantially as and for the purpose described. stantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the switch-rails 10. The combination, with the movable and frog, of a sliding rod, a crank-shaft, and switch-rails and frogs, of jointed links con- 20 jointed levers or links connected at their joint nected to said movable parts and pivoted to to the rod, to operate substantially as set forth. stationary pins, and sliding operating rods 8. The combination of jointed links connectconnecting the links, substantially as set forth. ed to the movable portion of a switch or frog In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name 10 and a pivot connected to one of the links and to this specification in the presence of two sub- 2 5 supported by and below the rails of the track, scribing Witnesses.

substantially as set forth. CHARLES B. PRICE.

9. The combination of jointed links 0011- Vitnesses: nected to the movable portion of a switch or G. S. MOCARGO,

1 frog, and a pivot for one of the links, and a \VM. K. MoELRoY. 

